New Solution for Malnourished Dialysis Patients

BOOTHWYN, Pa., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of Chronic Kidney
Disease (CKD) patients requiring hemodialysis, considered Stage 5 CKD, is
growing every year in spite of medical advances. This growth is fueled by the
aging baby boomer population and the diabetes epidemic in the United States.
There were nearly 100,000 new cases of Stage 5 CKD in 2005 alone, according to
the United States Renal Data System, and approximately 600,000 in total today.
That number is expected to climb 76% by 2020 and cost Medicare nearly
$54 billion. (1, 2)
It is estimated that up to 70% of dialysis patients suffer from varying
degrees of malnutrition that can result in unwanted weight loss and low blood
protein levels, specifically, albumin.(3) Low body mass index coupled with low
serum albumin have been strongly linked to mortality and close to 60% of new
dialysis patients begin therapy with albumin levels below the lower limit of
normal.(4, 5, 6) For dialysis patients who do not respond adequately to a
standard approach, like liberalized diet and oral supplements, protein
malnutrition and/or calorie malnutrition remain significant problems.
To address the specific nutritional needs of this patient group, Pentec
Health developed a new line of patent-pending Intradialytic Parenteral
Nutrition (IDPN) solutions called PROPLETE(TM). IDPN is a type of IV nutrition
administered through the dialysis machine directly into the bloodstream while
patients receive dialysis. PROPLETE(TM) is formulated to address the protein
malnourished dialysis population and has specific advantages for diabetes
patients, as well as those with fluid management challenges.
Eileen Moore, CNSD, R.D, L.D., a nationally recognized expert on IDPN,
believes the new formulation may be of additional benefit to malnourished
hemodialysis patients with diabetes. "Traditional formulations for IDPN have
been particularly troublesome for malnourished patients with diabetes. They
often require close supervision of blood glucose and may require insulin
administration. The unique formulation of PROPLETE(TM) provides an option for
these patients and may make managing their glucose and fluids easier."
"The introduction of PROPLETE(TM) reaffirms our commitment to patients,
innovation and the renal nutrition market. Pentec Health has a 25 year history
of offering traditional IDPN therapy and the introduction of PROPLETE(TM)
allows us to extend the benefits to a broader range of patients," said Joe
Cosgrove, President and CEO of Pentec Health. "Given the current magnitude of
diabetes, we are confident that PROPLETE(TM) will play a significant role in
addressing unmet renal nutritional needs."
PROPLETE(TM) is available exclusively from Pentec Health and can be
ordered immediately to begin addressing the malnutrition needs of the
hemodialysis population.
About Pentec Health, Inc.
For 25 years, Pentec Health has been an industry leader in providing
Specialty Infusion Services nationwide to patients who require access to
complex pharmaceutical products and services outside of the hospital setting.
Pentec Health provides Intraperitoneal Parenteral Nutrition (IPN) and
Intradialytic Parenteral Nutrition (IDPN) products and services to dialysis
centers for their malnourished dialysis patients; and, as a JCAHO accredited
home care provider, offers specialty in-home infusion services for highly
complex conditions that are underserved by traditional home care providers.
Pentec Health offers preparation and clinical management of drug therapies,
skilled nursing support, reimbursement services and unparalleled care
coordination to patients with acute and chronic conditions.
For more information about Pentec Health, Inc. visit,
http://www.pentechealth.com.
Joe Cosgrove, President and CEO, Pentec Health, Inc., +1-610-494-8700,
jcosgrove@pentechealth.com or contact Michael Abens
+1-610-494-8700, mabens@pentechealth.com
About Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a worldwide public health problem. In the
US alone, 20 million adults (1 in 9) have CKD and another 20 million are at
increased risk for developing it, and most people are unaware. The term CKD
refers to the five stages of kidney disease -- the early stages (stages 1 and
2) as well as kidney failure (stage 5). Diabetes is the leading risk factor
for CKD followed by high blood pressure.
REFERENCES
1. United States Renal Data System. (2007). Incidence and Prevalence.
Retrieved Aug. 14, 2008 from
http://www.usrds.org/2007/pdf/02_incid_prev_07.pdf.
2. Gilbertson DT, Liu J, Xue JL, Louis TA, Solid CA, Ebben JP, Collins A.
Projecting the number of patients with end-stage renal disease in the
United States to the year 2015. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2005 Dec;16(12):
3736-41.
3. National Kidney Foundation. K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for
Nutrition in Chronic Renal Failure. Am. J Kidney Dis 2000; 35
(suppl 2):S1 -S140.
4. Kalantar-Zadeh K, Kilpatrick R, Kuwae N, et al. Revisiting mortality
predictability of serum albumin in the dialysis population: time
dependency, longitudinal changes and population-attributable fraction.
Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2005;20:1880-1888.
5. Beddhu S, Cheung A, Larive B, et al. Inflammation and Inverse
Associations of Body Mass Index and Serum Creatinine With Mortality ion
Hemodialysis Patients. J Ren Nutr 2007;17 (6): 372-380.
6. United States Renal Data System. (2007). Patient Characteristics.
Retrieved Aug. 14, 2008 from
http://www.usrds.org/2007/pdf/03_pt_char_07.pdf.

SOURCE Pentec Health, Inc.

Joe Cosgrove, President and CEO, jcosgrove@pentechealth.com, or Michael Abens,
mabens@pentechealth.com, both of Pentec Health, Inc., +1-610-494-8700